A 14-YEAR-OLD Lautoka schoolgirl was abducted on her way home from school and allegedly raped by a man who had sought her early release from classes.
Police West information officer Wame Bautolu said the man had approached the headteacher earlier dressed as a policeman.
"But his request was refused and he was turned away from the school," Mr Bautolu said.
"He then waited for school to end before forcing her into a van while she was on her way home. He abused and raped her before leaving her at the grounds."
Reports of the incident have sparked concern with the Education Ministry calling on people "to weed out disgusting, vile and degrading violence against children".
Ministry of Education's Filipe Bole said heinous acts against children would not be tolerated.
"Children should learn to be bold and report all cases," he said.
"For their protection, a culture of dialogue on any given subject must be nurtured in homes, churches and neighbourhoods."
In another case, the police are hunting for a man who impersonated a policeman, raped a young woman and stole a truck.
Mr Bautolu said the impersonator was known to the authorities and was wanted on a warrant.
The incident this week came to light after a woman reported she'd been raped by a man who entered a construction company office dressed as a policeman.
He stole cash, mobile phones and the woman's bank cards.
The rape took place after he asked the woman to guide him to the company yard where he forced her into a freezer truck and raped her. He then took off in the truck .
Save the Children Fund's Chandar Shekar said the courts must be harsh with those guilty of such crimes while Fiji Women's Crisis Centre coordinator Edwina Kotoisuva said perpetrators were becoming bold because the community now had a higher tolerance of violence.
"It is the impact of the media, how it influences behaviour - like where students are downloading pornography on their mobile phones," she said.
"People just have to be very alert and the court system also have an important role to play, they must not be allowed to fall through the cracks."